“That’s not fair!” How many times have we heard that impassioned objection from a child when they perceive something as unjust or inequitable? From an early age, we gain a sense of what’s fair and unfair or what’s just and unjust. We can quickly recognize other people’s sin nature when they’re acting unfairly, but as we mature, we must also learn to contend with and recognize our own sin nature.

The good news is that there is One who is not only perfectly just, but the ultimate justifier as well. That One is God. Romans 3:26 says, “…so that He [God] would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” 

What does this verse explain? That God declares us righteous when we repent of our sins and confess Jesus as Savior and Lord. God’s justification is not based on anything we’ve done. Rather, it is a gracious and merciful gift from God, based solely on the sacrificial death of Christ.

If we’re not already lifting our hands in praise of God; that He is both just and justifier, now is a good time to praise Him. “I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name” (Psalm 63:4).

I praise you, God, both just and JUSTIFIER!

Want to learn more about how to live by Christ’s divine nature instead of our sinful, fallen nature? Grab a copy of Debbie’s 2 Peter Bible study, Living by the Divine Nature Instead of Our Fallen Nature, HERE. You can also access the free accompanying videos and podcasts by going HERE.

Do you ever feel like things in life aren’t fair? Have you wondered why some people get away with things with no apparent consequences? 

Often, those questions are warranted. As thinking people, we can’t help but wonder about fairness. But when we question why certain people get away with doing wrong, we must quickly remember that in the end, no one gets away with anything. God sees everything, including what is in our heart. He knows our thoughts and even intentions and motives. Most importantly, God is just, as Psalm 89:14 states, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne.” 

If you’ve been upset and concerned because life isn’t fair, because wrong too often prevails over what is right, because our world’s justice system doesn’t always rule fairly, remember that God is just. Also, remember that there is a day when every person will stand before the judgment seat of God (Hebrews 9:27).

God weighs hearts and motives. He forgives repentant sinners. He renders judgment on unrepentant ones. Set aside any vengeance you have toward another person knowing God will rule justly because that is His nature–just. 

Lord, thank You that I can trust You for You are JUST. 

TIP:  Write God’s attribute that I highlight in every 365 Days of Praise devotional in Prayers of My Heart. Writing it on paper writes it on your brain. When you’re troubled, flip through the pages of your journal and thank God for who He is as you reflect on His nature. It will build your confidence, decrease your stress, and help you live a more joy-filled life. Click HERE  to order.

“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to Judge the living and the dead” (2 Timothy 4:1).

My husband, Keith, and I celebrate our anniversary in the month of June. I’ve known him for over 50 years. I knew him when he didn’t have money to buy me french fries with my hamburger at McDonald’s. I know him as the guy who loves to put on an old t-shirt and mow the grass. But, I’ll never forget the first time I sat at the back of the room when he was holding court. After sentencing a criminal, he motioned to me to approach the bench. All eyes turned on me, and I suddenly felt nervous and intimidated. Why in the world did I feel that way? Was it the courtroom? Was it that he sat in judgment in a long black robe?

If I felt that way approaching the judgment seat of my husband, who I wake up to every morning, I can’t imagine what it will be like to sit in God’s courtroom and hear Him call my name to approach His bench.

Are you ready to hear your name called? Because it will be. Regardless of whether you want to think it or not, like it or not, it’s not your choice. Every single soul will appear before God and Christ Jesus, the Judge. Those who accepted Jesus’ death on the cross as judgment for their sins, will receive rewards at the Judgement. Those who rejected God’s gift of forgiveness in Christ, will be judged for their thoughts, words, and actions based on God’s holiness. I can’t imagine!

Lord, I, who have received salvation through Christ humbly, gratefully praise You, JUDGE OF THE LIVING AND THE DEAD.

Are you prepared to stand before the judgment seat of God? One way to be ready is by standing firm in your faith during these dark times in which we live. Dive deeper into how to do that in Debbie’s Bible study on Jude, Contend Earnestly for the Faith. Grab your copy HERE. 

Happy Father’s Day! We hope all you fathers, grandfathers, and father figures have a blessed day and know how appreciated you are!

“What’s a spiritual happy dance?” someone asked me after I mentioned having done one. I couldn’t help but smile. Then I realized no one except my husband had seen me do a spiritual happy dance. Why? Because it’s before God and comes from a heart flowing with joy. 

Does our Heavenly Father care if we are joyful? Yes. Jesus said in John 16:24, “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.” 

This does not mean we give Jesus our worldly wish list. Rather, it means we align ourselves to Jesus, who is filled with joy and is the giver of joy; as John 15:11 explains. “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

These verses may provide a clue as to why believers sometimes may not have joy. We may be able to quote Jesus, but are we living Him? Is His joy in us? In other words, if Jesus was on earth today, would His joy be tied to the worldly, temporal things that affect our countenance? Probably not. 

How could Jesus’ joy not be tied to things of the earth? Jesus came from heaven where true joy reigns. He knew earth’s best and finest was temporal and passing away. Joy comes when our minds and lives are Spirit-driven, not earthly driven. As Psalm 16:11 reminds us, it’s in His presence that we find fullness of joy.

When was the last time you did a spiritual happy dance? 

Lord, I praise You, the JOY GIVER. Thank You that in Your presence there is fullness of joy. 

There are countless wonderful and praise-worthy attributes of Jesus. Download this FREE PRINTABLE to explore the attributes of Jesus listed in the book of John. 

Do you ever read a verse and something about it “wows” you? That’s how I feel about Jeremiah 23:6. “In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely; and this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The Lord our righteousness.’” 

Why am I wowed by this verse? 

It’s not only that Judah will be saved, and the Israelites will one day live in peace. Although thinking about Israel living in peace is definitely a “wow.” It’s not just that the Lord is righteous. 

What wows me is the word “our.” It sends me to my knees–literally. It’s the reason I’m on my knees every morning, bowing before the Lord. 

I’m “wowed” because I’m included in the “our.” In other words, I’m not on the outside looking in, longing to be in right standing before God. Rather, I’m on the inside looking at His face…praising Him. 

I’m on my knees because I know I’m a sinner, but that no longer defines my relationship with my Creator. Christ Jesus defines my relationship with the Heavenly Father. Because I am in Christ, I am saved and so are all believers. Christ is in us…in all who call on Jesus for salvation. The LORD is our righteousness, Jehovah-Tsidkenu. 

JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU, the Lord our Righteousness, all honor and praise and glory belong to You. Thank You for imparting Your righteousness to me when I repent and call on You for salvation. 

Would you like to deepen your relationship with God? Discover the many resources on our website that can help you grow in your walk with the Lord. We offer several free resources, including podcasts, video teachings, listening guides, and more!

Peace. Everyone’s looking for it. Where? Drugs. Vacation. Sex. Entertainment. In the meantime, and while seeking peace, life goes on. Worriers worry. Whiners whine. Complainers complain. Wheat beaters beat wheat. And that’s where we find Gideon. He is beating wheat in a winepress in order to hide it from the Midianites. 

Judges 6 is the incredible account of when the Lord came to Gideon and told him to tear down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah in order to restore worship of the Lord. He then commissioned Gideon to deliver Israel out of the hands of the Midianites. 

Judges 6:24 records Gideon’s response to the Lord. “Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and named it The LORD is Peace.” 

Jehovah-Shalom, the LORD of Peace, came to a nation threatened by enemies and to people who worshiped Baal. Jehovah-Shalom not only came to Gideon, but His Spirit of peace and power came upon Gideon. 

Isn’t that what we need? God’s peace and power? 

What can we learn from Jehovah-Shalom and Gideon about personal and national peace? 

• Worship the Lord of Peace, Jehovah-Shalom.
• Be filled with the Lord’s Spirit of peace and power.
• Fight valiantly for righteousness.

JEHOVAH-SHALOM, Lord of Peace, thank You that by Your Spirit I can experience peace and power as I stand for righteousness as Gideon did. 

Would you like to experience more grace and peace? Check out Debbie’s Bible study on 1 Peter, “Experiencing Grace and Peace in Cultural Chaos” by clicking HERE. You can also access the free accompanying videos and podcasts by clicking HERE.

Are you sick in spirit, soul, or body? If so, consider how Jehovah-Rapha worked in Moses’ and the Israelites’ lives. They had been in the wilderness for three days after escaping the Egyptians, when they arrived at the undrinkable waters of Marah. What did Moses do? He cried out to Jehovah-Rapha, which means healer. The Lord responded to Moses and told him what to do. Moses obeyed and the bitter, undrinkable water became drinkable.

Exodus 15:26 records God’s encouragement to Moses. “‘If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer.’” 

This brings us to a question. Have we cried out to Jehovah-Rapha? Have we done what He has shown or told us? The Lord’s  message was clear. “If you do” means our actions have consequences. 

“If you give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God” emphasizes the importance of paying attention to what God says.

“And do what is right.” Moses had to do what God told him. 

“In His sight” means that God sees if we obey Him. 

“And give ear to His commandments…” In other words, God is our healer. Are we crying out to Him? Are we doing what He tells us? 

JEHOVAH-RAPHA, Lord my Healer, I praise You for the complete healing You’ll give me in heaven. In the meantime, help me increasingly listen to You and do what You tell me.

In addition to today’s key verse, John 5 also depicts Jesus’ healing power and the importance of obedience. Jesus healed a man who had been disabled for 38 years and commanded him to stop sinning, warning that something worse may happen to the man if he continued. To watch all of Debbie’s teaching on John 5, click HERE or listen to it HERE.

“I’m thirsty!” How many times have we said that? Our bodies need water. But, what about our spirits? According to Jesus, they need spiritual water, Living Water, the Holy Spirit.

Listen to Jesus’ words. “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:38-39).

In these verses, Jesus tells us an important truth. Just as our body needs water, so does our spirit. Unhappy? Grumpy? Dry as a prune? If so, you could be spiritually thirsty. Go to your Heavenly Father. Tell Him, “I thirst. I feel spiritually dry.” Ask Him to refresh you. Open your heart and ask Him to fill you to overflowing with His glorious, refreshing, life-giving Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18 reinforces Jesus’ words with the command that believers be filled continually with the Spirit. So yes, when your body is dry, reach for a glass of water. When your spirit is dry, reach for the Lord’s filling.

Jesus, thank You for giving me the LIVING WATER of Your Spirit who cleanses and refreshes me; who fills and energizes me to serve You. I love You, Lord. 

Click HERE to watch all of Debbie’s teaching on John 7, where Jesus says that whoever believes in Him will have rivers of living water flowing from within them, referring to the Holy Spirit. You can also listen to the podcast teaching by clicking HERE. 

Standing in the checkout line, I noticed the child from the corner of my eye. You couldn’t help but notice since he was wailing at the top of his lungs, “I want it!” His bedraggled mother tried her best to wrestle the package of M&Ms from his hands while at the same time apologize to the cashier. Tommy wanted the M&M’s, but his mother knew that her child was not “lacking” for food. 

Although I don’t like to admit it, there are times I can be like Tommy when things aren’t going my way. But there is another to whom we can look who points us to the key to being calm and trusting rather than demanding and complaining.  

David, the shepherd boy who became king, is an example to us. In Psalm 23:1 he stated, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” Say those words with me. “I shall not want.”

David grasped what I sometimes forget. There’s a difference between what I “want” and what I “lack.” Psalm 23:1 is best interpreted, “The Lord is my shepherd (Jehovah-Ra-Ah), I lack for nothing.” In other words, David was aware that the Lord was watching over him, leading, and protecting him. He was mindful of his Shepherd’s presence and provision. 

If there are times you focus more on what you want rather than on God’s present provision and you desire to develop a more grateful attitude, consider daily journaling that for which you are grateful. Begin being more like David and less like Tommy. 

JEHOVAH-RA-AH, thank You for being my Shepherd. Help me to be increasingly mindful that in You I lack for nothing. 

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